bac_FamilyDinner

Bugs Bunny Soup
Bridget Swinney MS, RDN, LD

November 6, 2024 Recipes

This creamy soup is for all the silly “wabbits” in your house! It’s a perfect start to a healthy family meal and great for those who don’t always like the texture of veggies.

The carrots in this recipe are rich in vitamin A, which are important for a healthy immune system, vision, and skin. Carrots also contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants important for a growing baby’s eye and brain development during pregnancy and also in the early years of life. Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and other carotenoids are also found in breast milk, depending on how much is in the mom’s diet.

A 1-cup serving of this soup provides:
100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin A for children up to 13 years old
86% of the RDA of vitamin A for 14-year-olds to adults.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon oil (canola, olive, or avocado oils are best)
  • ½ medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 3 stalks of celery, threads removed and sliced (1 heaping cup)
  • 1 pound of peeled and sliced carrots or baby carrots (about 4 cups)
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 teaspoons granulated chicken
  • ½ teaspoon dill
  • 2 cups milk (any type)
  • Pepper to taste
  • Sour cream or plain yogurt (optional)
Sour-cream
Makes about 5 cups

Directions:

  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until almost see-through.
  • Add water, broth mix, and dill. Stir until the broth mix is dissolved.
  • Add carrots. Cover and cook at a medium simmer until carrots are fork-tender, stirring occasionally. (10-15 minutes)
  • Remove from heat. Pour the mixture into the blender with milk, blend on low, then medium-high until smooth.
  • Add pepper to taste. Because the broth has sodium, adding more salt is unnecessary.
  • Add a spoonful of plain yogurt or sour cream on top when serving, to make it extra creamy!
Bon Appetit!
Cooking Tip

The thinner the carrots are sliced, the faster they’ll cook.
If you want thicker soup, put in a little less milk when blending.

REFERENCES:

National Institutes of Health. Vitamin A and Carotenoids.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/

Giordano E, Quadro L. Lutein, zeaxanthin and mammalian development: Metabolism, functions and implications for health. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2018 Jun 1;647:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Apr 11. PMID: 29654731; PMCID: PMC5949277.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5949277/

FoodData Central. Carrots, baby, raw.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168568/nutrients

Zielinska MA, Hamulka J, Wesolowska A. Carotenoid Content in Breastmilk in the 3rd and 6th Month of Lactation and Its Associations with Maternal Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Characteristics. Nutrients. 2019 Jan 18;11(1):193. doi: 10.3390/nu11010193. PMID: 30669320; PMCID: PMC6356523.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356523/

Mahmassani HA, Switkowski KM, Scott TM, Johnson EJ, Rifas-Shiman SL, Oken E, Jacques PF. Maternal Intake of Lutein and Zeaxanthin during Pregnancy Is Positively Associated with Offspring Verbal Intelligence and Behavior Regulation in Mid-Childhood in the Project Viva Cohort. J Nutr. 2021 Mar 11;151(3):615-627. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa348. PMID: 33484136; PMCID: PMC7948203.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7948203/

Mahmassani HA, Switkowski KM, Scott TM, Johnson EJ, Rifas-Shiman SL, Oken E, Jacques PF. Maternal diet quality during pregnancy and child cognition and behavior in a US cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Jan 11;115(1):128-141. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab325. PMID: 34562095; PMCID: PMC8755080.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/34562095/

Side Lying Hold

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Cross Cradle Hold

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football Hold

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Breastfeeding Holds

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Breastfeeding Holds

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position